Jim Beasley

Chernobyl 30 Years Later

Wildlife ecologist Jim Beasley studies the effects of human activities on wildlife, and in his study of one of the most poisoned places on the planet, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, he comes to a stunning conclusion. Jim Beasley’s research focuses on understanding the effects of human activities on wildlife. He is currently collaborating with an international group of scientists to study the ecology, population dynamics, and health of wildlife living within the Chernobyl and Fukushima exclusion zones. The research has led to the discovery of abundant wildlife at Chernobyl and the development of a new GPS tool that monitors radiation exposures experienced by wildlife in near real-time. Beasley’s research has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, Animal Planet, NPR, CNN, BBC, National Geographic and Nature. Beasley is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. He holds bachelor’s degree in wildlife science from SUNY-Environmental Science and Forestry, and master’s and doctorate degrees in wildlife ecology from Purdue University.

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